ooc: Here is the next chapter!
Kiyoshi opened her eyes slowly, her body feeling completely rested. She sat up and yawned, smiling at herself. She rubbed her eyes trying to remember what had happened. She wasn’t sure where she was, or why she was there. All she knew was the bed she was in was extremely comfortable. She put her hands down on the satin blue sheets and looked around.
Dark blue and white tapestries hung on the baby blue walls. They complimented the creamy rug. Kiyoshi swung her feet over to the side of the bed and stood up. She swayed and had to catch herself, using the bed post for support. She dug her toes into the soft carpet and sighed. Where was she anyway?
A painful shock hit her head, and she fell to the floor, catching herself with her arms. She stared at the rug, panting in confusion. Her hair hung on both sides of her head. It wasn’t that same shiny honey color it normally was. It wasn’t the same color her mother had nick named her for. It was an ashy, dull brown. It was clean, but very rough. And her garments. Kiyoshi had never seen the silver laced pants and top. They, like everything else in the room, were very relaxing. The young girl looked around the room again, fully taking in the luxuries she had been blessed with, and wondered where her mother was. She was more than likely in the kitchen, where ever that was, making breakfast for the family.
Kiyoshi ran over to the French doors that were in between two of the textiles on the wall, and tried to open them. They were locked. She turned around and lay against the cool wooden frame, the doorknob still in her hand. Turning back to the door, she gave it one last twist, and gave up. She still didn’t even know where she was. Why couldn’t she remember anything? Kiyoshi closed her eyes and focused all her thought on trying to find out what had happened. The pain rushed back into her head, and she gasped for air. What was going on? What was this pain? Kiyoshi knew then, that something wasn’t right.
Why hadn’t she been afraid when she had first woken up? She had known something was strange. Kiyoshi ran over the doors and began to pound on them. “Let me out! Come on!” Could the village men be playing a trick on her? “Face me like men, you cowards!” She pounded until her arms ached and her fists were swollen. She sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. Where was everyone? Could they even hear her? Hear her... Why did that seem so familiar...?
A vision of herself trapped within a fiery pit flashed through her mind and that same pain as before returned, stronger than ever now. Kiyoshi clenched her teeth and fought to stay focused on the vision. She was in a small ditch, screaming for help, but no one could hear her. She was going to die, so she ran, but she hit something. That man, he... He saved her! He must have been the one to bring her here, where ever she was. Where was he?
Kiyoshi opened her eyes and grabbed her head. Blood was streaming down the sides of her cheeks. Her head throbbed and her heart was beating clumsily against her chest. She tried to stand and stifled a bit before grasping balance. The ruby red stains on the rug seemed to glow against the pure white outskirts. Her legs were like rubber, and it was difficult for her to stay standing. She decided to sit on the bed and rest awhile. She began the short, but so very long, journey to the bed. Each step she took weakened her and her vision was soon blurred. The bed was only two steps away when she collapsed onto the plush carpet.
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This, a dream?
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The wind was combing through her hair, and her eyes glazed over at the sudden weather. The rock she sat upon was cool and smooth. The sky was painted with a thick brush, calmly stroked across the clouds with the colors of the sun. Her eyes shined a deep purple against her peachy complexion, and her lips a rosy pink. The white roses in her hair bloomed slowly into the night. Her dress, white with lace, brushed against her legs, flowing with the wind. Her smile was that of an angel’s, pure and true. The ocean below the cliff rippled against the stone. It curved and twisted to match the dents and crevices the cliff made. The waves were like a baby’s whisper into her ears. She stood then, reacting to a voice heard in the depths below. It was her mother calling her. She peered over the edge, only to see a man in a brilliant white uniform smiling at her. She looked to her side and saw her mother. Her brother appeared from the darkness and stood with her. She smiled and walked towards him. The young man moved his arm back and pushed it forward into her ribs, sending her off the cliff. She soared through the air and closed her eyes. The roses lifted from her hair and blew away, petal by petal. She waited.
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And so...
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She opened her eyes, expecting to see the dark water opening its mouth to swallow her, but instead saw the face of an attractive man. She sat up, her face red from embarrassment, and turned the other way to hide her reaction. “Who.. Who are you?” Her voice trembled and faltered over her words, making her silently curse. She thought she heard him chuckle, and turned to face him, forgetting her manners. She grabbed by his collar and looked into his eyes. She saw his surprise and quickly let go, turning her back to him. “Sorry,” she mumbled, “I was trying to see if I knew you. Since you saved me and all, I thought you must be one of my mother’s friends or something.” She was sure she had heard him chuckle this time. She whipped around once more and stared at him. “What are you laughing at?” She kept her glare against his charming smile. It was the same man in her dream too. She must have looked baffled because he cleared his throat and began to speak.
“Hello. My name is General Maku. I am a warrior for the Ginsei army and I was told to apprehend a specimen... Well, lets just say I was told to save someone very special.” He smiled and an evil presence was felt in his eyes. He stood and bowed. “Will you please accompany me to meet my leaders?” He tilted his head upward to meet Kiyoshi’s glare. He smirked and began to walk out of the room.
Kiyoshi frowned, and hopped off the bed. She sought after him, scuffling to keep up with the general’s pace. They had been walking for about ten minutes and Kiyoshi was tiring. “When are we going to get there? This is really boring and I’m tired!” Kiyoshi yawned and stopped in the middle of the hall. Maku stopped four feet ahead of her. He turned his head so his chin was right in front of his armored shoulder. Kiyoshi saw a faint gleam out of the corner of his icy glance. “Well? Are you going to answer me, or not?” Kiyoshi tapped her foot impatiently on the maroon and gold carpet. The general turned to completely face the child. Kiyoshi lifted an eyebrow and frowned. The general simply gave a quick sneer and resumed walking up the dim hallway. “I’m not going then! You won’t even tell me where we are going!” Kiyoshi sat in the middle of the corridor and stuck her tongue out at the now grinning general. He stood where he was, his back turned to her.
“I already informed you, your highness.” He smirked at his little joke and continued, “We are going to see my leaders at their head quarters. They have been dying... Well, they are very anxious to meet you.” Maku gave a small chuckle and continued walking. Kiyoshi watched him defiantly, waiting for him to turn around and yell at her for not moving. But he did not. The blonde haired general quickened his pace and turned a corner. Kiyoshi became worried and stood up.
“Uh, where are you going?” Kiyoshi rushed over to the corner and ran down the tiny hallway the man had chosen. She soon caught up with him and kicked his shoe. Panting, she expressed her violent feelings towards him. “I think you‘re annoying, you know. You are a pain in my butt!” Kiyoshi bit her tongue. She really should be thanking him, for saving her. Instead, her pride cut in and she decided to make conversation. “Are we there yet?” Kiyoshi ran up to his side and tugged on his cloak. “Well, are we almost there?”
The general nodded and stopped abruptly at a large golden door. “We are here.” Maku knocked on the door twice and Kiyoshi stared in wonder. Voices echoed inside the room and soon after quieted. Maku smiled and opened the door as if on cue. As he entered he paused, and glanced back at Kiyoshi. She sighed in anguish and went in first.
As she stepped inside the huge auditorium, Kiyoshi gawked in awe. She had never seen so many antiques. There were vases of gold, black, silver, blue, blood red, emerald, and orchid. Tapestries of the same colors surrounded the chairs, and paintings of all sorts hung on the twenty feet high titanium walls. They reflected the light of the multi-colored candles that glowed on the wooded stage. A podium made of black cherry wood sat at the front of the stage where a man with green hair and a white lab coat stood. His black eyes rolled to Kiyoshi’s location and he grimaced. He was obviously very happy to see her.*